Seattle May Soon Have A Citywide System Of Lockers To Serve Homeless Residents

Seattle city leaders are working to establish a citywide system of lockers for the city’s homeless residents, council members Sally Bagshaw and Bruce Harrell announced in a guest blog post in The Stranger on Tuesday.

Lockers, the council members wrote, would free homeless residents from having to “drag your possessions with you to your interview, on your back, in bags, whatever you have, stigmatizing you for sure as homeless.”

Several other cities, including Portland, New York and Santa Monica have adopted similar systems, said Bagshaw and Harrell, who planned to spend the next 100 days weighing options and consulting with the mayor with the goal of adding 100 lockers this year.

“It’s not a new concept, but it is both workable and vital. Not just for those who are hauling their belongings, but also for businesses, residents, and visitors who would like to visit clean parks and sidewalks,” the council members wrote.